JamesO.Crowley

PETERSHAM -- James Oliver Crowley, of Petersham, died on Friday, April 19, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Fitchburg, MA on 15 February of 1941 to Dorothy and Arthur Crowley.

He was a master mason for 37 years. As and a former vice president and member of the Rolling Thunder and the Patriot Guard Riders, he rode in over 100 funeral processions for our fallen soldiers. James was one of the founding members of both the Fitchburg Weightlifting Club and the Fitchburg Skin Divers Club. As a member of the World Power Lifting Alliance and International level Referee, he holds numerous trophies along with participating as a judge while witnessing and authenticating numerous world records. Other memberships include: International Union of Operating Engineers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and Orange Gun Club.

James joined the Navy at 17 and served aboard the USS Forestall for four years where he received an honorable discharge. After departing the military, he began his long career in construction, and on September 1, 1962 he became part of the International Union of Operating Engineers where he eventually became one of the world's foremost crane operators.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers, David and Daniel, and two of his grandchildren, Jason Malochleb and Patricia Jane Crowley. He is survived by his loving partner in life, Irene Cordio; his sister and her husband, Dorothy and Paul Hoagland; his four daughters and their husbands, Carolyn and Clyde Martin of Springfield, MA; Deb and Bob Truax of Leominster, MA; Susan and Joe Gonynor of Shirley, MA; Jackie of Florida; and his two sons, James of Tenn. and John and his wife, Pat of Dover, DE. James also has 14 grandchildren, Christopher, Jimbo, Michael, Julie, Tabitha, JP and his wife, Becky, Bethany, Kyle, Jackson, Dana, Destini, Desiree, Aliexys, and Anabelle; and two great-grandchildren, Jasmine and Lucas.

CROWLEY -- His funeral will be held on Friday, April 26, at 9:30 AM in the Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg. Burial with full military honors will take place at 11 AM in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. Calling hours in the funeral home will held on Thursday, April 25, from 4 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675.

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